Golfing practice aid



Jan, 22, 1963 c. ESTY GOLFING PRACTICE AID Filed March 22, 1960 INVENTOR.

CLEMENT ESTY ATTORNEYS United States Patent ice 3,074,723 GOLFING PRACTICE AID Clement Esty, 915 Dedharn St, Newton Center, Mass. Filed Mar. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 16,761 9 Claims. (Cl. 273-189) The present invention relates in general to golfing practice aids and more particularly concerns a novel device for reminding a golfer to keep his arm straight. The device is easy to installQinexpensive, fits the arm of any golfer, and contributes materially toward improving the backswing by regularly reminding the golfer to keep his leading arm straight.

One of the most diflicult techniques for a golfer to learn is maintaining his leading arm straight during the course of his backswing. Yet, this habit is very important if the golfer is to drive the golf ball accurately and powerfully along a selected straight course.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an aid in reminding a golfer to maintain his leading arm straight during the course of his backswing.

It is another object of the invention to achieve the preceding object with a device capable of fitting the arm of any golfer, yet is easy toinstall and remove.

Still another object of the invention is to achieve the preceding objects with a device which does not otherwise interfere with the performance of the golfer.

Still another object of the invention is to achieve the preceding objects'with a lightweight relatively inexpensive device which is relatively easy to fabricate.

According to. the invention, the device comprises a first sheet of flexible material having a width sufiicient to extend along thatportion of a golfers arm about and including the elbow. The length of this first sheet is greater than the largest circumference around the elbow of a golfer. A second sheet of material is provided with its length aligned along the width of the first sheet. Means are provided for securing the first sheet to the second sheet and means including the second sheet form a loop of adjustable circumference so as to fit over the elbow of substantially any golfer, the axis of the loop being generally parallel to the width dimension of the first sheet. Means are provided for adjustably securing the first sheet wrapped about said loop and itself so as to exert a slight pressure on the arm of a wearer reminding him to maintain his arm straight.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for securing the first sheet to the second sheet comprises a lace which also functions to cooperate with the second sheet in forming the loop of adjustable circumference. The means for adjustably securing the first sheet wrapped about the loop and itself preferably comprises a number of circumferentially spaced snaps with a mating snap located at one edge of the first sheet.

Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an unfolded view of the novel device;

FIG. 2 is a view of the device as assembled for normal use by a golfer;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows a view of a golfer wearing the novel device as a reminder to keep his arm straight.

With reference now to the drawing and more particularly FIG. 1 thereof, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown unfolded. It comprises a first sheet 11 of transparent vinyl or other suitable flexible material, a second sheet 12 of similar material and a lace 13 securing 3,074,723 Patented Jan. 22, 19 63.

. 2 the sheets 11 and 12 together with the length of the sheet 12 aligned along the width of sheet 11.

Sheet 11 is formed with outside lace openings 14 and 15 and inside openings 16, 17 and 18. Openings 14, 17 and 18 are disposed opposite to openings 22, 21 and 19 respectively in sheet 12. Lace 13 passes through the opposed pairs of openings to lace sheets 11 and 12 together.

Sheet 11 also includes a number of snap openings 23 displaced along the length of sheet 11 generally nearer to edge 24 of that sheet. A snap stud 25 is located along the line defined by the snap openings 23 near the edge 26 of sheet 11 so that when the device is assembled into a hollow tube as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, stud 25 fits into a mating opening 23.

With reference to FIG. 4, there is showna view of a golfer with the invention 31 fitted over his leading arm, the sheet 12 being preferably centered about and adjacent to the elbow 32 of the golfer. The novel device is preferably installed over the arm in the following manner. The lace 13 is tied so that it forms a closed loop with sheet 12 large enough to slide over the elbow and small enough so that the device does not slide as the golfer swings. The device is then pulledover the leading arm of the golfer (the left arm of a right-handed golfer) so that the lace is just above the elbow. If the golfer is wearing a sports sweater, the loop should be made sufficiently large so that it fits over the sleeve of the sweater also. The device is positioned with the sheet 12 centered about and adjacent to the elbow. The device may then be snapped together with stud 25 snapped into one of the openings 23 so that the device feels comfortable.

Once the adjustments are made for a particular golfer, it may be slipped on and off without changing the lace or snaps. The loop of smaller perimeter formed by the lace 13 and strip 12 functions to keep the device from slipping while swinging. The closed tube of larger circumferential perimeter defined by sheet 11 functions to exert a slight pressure on the arm of the golfer when his leading arm bends.

When installed, the golfer is now in a position to practice his backswing correctly. The invention will keep the arm straight as it is swung back and a straight arm during the course of a swing will pull the shoulders and hips around. It is recommended that the hips and shoulders be allowed to pull the arms down on the forward swing, stopping the forward swing in the direction of the imaginary flight of the ball. Gradually the golfer will get the desired swing automatically and may leave it ofl? for increasing periods of a practice session.

A feature of the invention is that it may be used in confined quarters without a ball. In confined quarters it is recommended that the golfer use a short grip on his shortest iron while swinging. Another feature of the invention is that while it serves effectively to remind the golfer to keep his arm straight, it is so light in weight that it does not interfere with a full proper swing.

The specific embodiment described herein is by way of example only for illustrating the best mode now contemplated for practicing the invention. It is apparent that those skilled in the art may now make numerous modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments without departing from the inventive concepts. Consequently, the invention is to be construed as limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for reminding a golfer to maintain a straight arm while swinging comprising, a first sheet of flexible material having a width suflicient to extend along a length of a golfers arm including and extending on either side of the elbow of said arm, said first sheet length being greater than the largest circumference around the elbow of a golfer, a second sheet of flexible material with its length aligned along the width of said first sheet and being of the order of said width, said second sheet length being greater than its width, means for securing said second sheet to said first sheet, means including said second sheet for forming a loop having a circumference adjusta ble to snugly fit over the elbow of substantially any golfer while said loop after adjustment for a particular golfer is slidablc over said arm to permit removal and insertion of said device by said particular golfer without changing the circumference of said loop, the axis of said loop being generally parallel to the width dimension of said first sheet, and means for adjustably securing said first sheet wrapped about said loop and overlapping itself so as to exert a slight pressure on the arm of a wearer reminding said wearer to maintain said arm straight.

2 A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second sheets are formed with mating openings and said means for securing said first sheet to said second sheet comprises a lace slidable through said mating openings, said lace also coasting with said second sheet to comprise said means for forminga loop.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for adjustably securing said first sheet wrapped about said loop anditself comprises, cir cumferentially spaced snaps extending along a path near one edge of 'said first sheet, and a mating snap near the opposite edge of said first sheet.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for securing said first sheet to said second sheet comprises a lace, said lace also coacting with said second sheet to comprise said means for forming said loop.

5. A device for reminding a golfer to maintain a straight arm while swinging comprising, a first sheet of flexible material having a width sufiicient to extend along a length of a golfers arm including and extending on either side of the elbow of said arm, said first sheet length being greater than the largest circumference around the elbow of the golfer, a second sheet adapted to be centered about and adjacent to the elbow of said golfer with its length aligned along said first sheet width and greater than its width, means for securing said second sheet to said first sheet, means including said second sheet for forming a loop having a circumference adjustable to snugly fit over the elbow of substantially any golfer while said loop after adjustment for a particular golfer is slidable over said arm to permit removal and insertion of said device by said golfer without changing the circumference of said loop, the axis of said loop being generally parallel to the width dimension of said first sheet, and means including said first sheet for forming a slighlty flexible tube about said loop so as to exert a slight pressure on the arin of a wearer reminding said wearer to maintain said arm straight.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for securing said first sheet to said second sheet comprises a lace, said lace also coacting with said second sheet to comprise said means for forming said loop.

1 7. A device in accordance with claim 6 and further comprising, means for fastening said first sheet in overlapping relationship about itself to form said tube.

8. A device in accordance with claim 6' wherein said first and second sheets are formed with a plurality of op'po' sitely adjacent openings spaced along the circumference of said loop, said lace being threaded through said openings to secure said first and second sheets together.

9. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second sheet curves concavely toward the axis of said loop to provide a relatively large area of said second sheet for contact with thearm of a golfer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,414,012 Flint Apr. 25, 1922 1,772,601 Du'nham Au 12, 1930 2,059,136 Moller Oct. 27, 1936 2,279,296 Bresnick et al. -1 Apr. 14, 1942 2,450,162 Promen 2 1- Sept. 28, 1948 2,809,042 Wasley a Oct. 8, 1957 

1. A DEVICE FOR REMINDING A GOLFER TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT ARM WHILE SWINGING COMPRISING, A FIRST SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING A WIDTH SUFFICIENT TO EXTEND ALONG A LENGTH OF A GOLFER''S ARM INCLUDING AND EXTENDING ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ELBOW OF SAID ARM, SAID FIRST SHEET LENGTH BEING GREATER THAN THE LARGEST CIRCUMFERENCE AROUND THE ELBOW OF A GOLFER, A SECOND SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL WITH ITS LENGTH ALIGNED ALONG THE WIDTH OF SAID FIRST SHEET AND BEING OF THE ORDER OF SAID WIDTH, SAID SECOND SHEET LENGTH BEING GREATER THAN ITS WIDTH, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SECOND SHEET TO SAID FIRST SHEET, MEANS INCLUDING SAID SECOND SHEET FOR FORMING A LOOP HAVING A CIRCUMFERENCE ADJUSTABLE TO SNUGLY FIT OVER THE ELBOW OF SUBSTANTIALLY ANY GOLFER WHILE SAID LOOP AFTER ADJUSTMENT FOR A PARTICULAR GOLFER IS SLIDABLE OVER SAID ARM TO PERMIT REMOVAL AND INSERTION OF 